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Law Enforcement Training

Our three-day Crisis Intervention Specialist (CIS) School for law enforcement and criminal justice personnel is designed to train law enforcement and criminal justice personnel in dealing with individuals in crisis.

The school is provided to all levels of the law enforcement and criminal justice communities to help them understand and deal more effectively with a mentally ill individual. The school focuses on:

Introduction To Forensic Mental Health And
Jail Diversion

Overview Of The Mental Health System In
Pennsylvania (State And County)

Mental Health Law And Treatment Options

Crisis Intervention

NAMI - In Our Own Voice: Living with
Mental Illness

Psychiatric Medication

Mental Illness (“Psych-101”)

Substance Abuse

Suicide Awareness

The first two days of the school are spent in the classroom. The third day is spent in the hospital or in the community with trained and experienced mental health professionals. This third day helps the officers identify mental illness and they learn through first hand experience the appropriate ways to deal with those individuals who suffer from a severe mental health disorder. All workbooks and materials will be provided.

CIS certified officers will provide:

Crisis Intervention & stabilization

Interview & assessment

Conflict resolution

Forensic diversion to avoid incarceration and criminalization of the mentally ill

Referral to appropriate community-based services

The CIS officer will also work in conjunction with the traditional mental health system to promote stability, ensure integration of services/treatment while attempting to reduce hospitalization and incarceration.